Firearm.



G. S. LEWIS.

` PIRE/IRM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1912.

1,059,477'. Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

In Ven tor:

' the barrel c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. LEWIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J'. STEVENS ARMS & TOOL COMPANY, 0F CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

FIREARM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Springfield, Hampden county, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof. y

This invention relates to breech-loading firearms, and especially to single-shot rifles of low cost, in which the barrel is fixed with respect to the frame and the breech-block is movable.

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide a very simple and yet strong breech mechanism and in accordance with this part of the invention the operating lever is itself hung directly upon the pivoted breech-block and coperates directly therewith.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the placing of the main spring in position.

The invention will be more fully eX- plained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated and in which- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of so /much of a firearm as is necessary to enable the invention to be understood, the breechblock being shown in the closed position with the hammer down. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the breechblock in its open position, with the hammer cocked.

In the embodiment df the invention illustrated in the drawing the stock a has secured thereto as usual the frame b which receives In the frame is mounted a breech-block d which is pivoted as at d and may be provided as usual with a spring plunger Z2 to actuate the usual extractor e. The breech-block d is substantially L-shaped and carries the firing pin, indicated by dotted lines at d3, as usual. At the rear end of the breech-block, as at d4, is pivoted the operating lever f which also forms the trigger guard. This lever is notched on its rear side, as at f', to engage a pin g which is xed in the frame and may be provided with a loose sleeve g. This ping, as will be observed, is placed forward of the vertical plane which passes through the pivot d4 on which the lever is hung directly to the breech-block and the upper shoulder f2 of the notch f is squared or otherwise formed so that the radial distance of the outer portion of the shoulder is slightly greater than that of the inner portion of the shoulder. The lever f is also provided with a shoulder f3 for coperation with the breech-block.

' The rear face of the breech-block is arranged to bear against the face of the hammer h, so that the hammer is cocked when the breech-block is moved to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 2 and the hammer is retained in its cocked position by the combined sear and trigger z' as usual, against the pressure of the main spring 7c. The latter is formed so that it can be placed in position readily and to that end the plunger, surrounded by the spring itself, is made in two parts lc and 7a2 which telescope, the one within the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, each part being formed with a shoulder 7c3 7c* for the corresponding end of the spring 7c. The telescoping plunger and the spring can be assembled outside of the receiver and readily slipped into place when the parts of the gun are being assembled.

In the operation of the breech mechanism shown in the drawing, when the parts are in the closed position, as shown in Fig. l, and the breech is to be opened, the lever is pressed downwardly and forwardly. Some little effort is required to start the lever by reason of the bearing of the shoulder f2 against the pin g, but after the movement is commenced the shoulder f3 of the lever bears against the underside of the breechblock so that in the continued forward and downward movement of the lever the breechblock is swung downwardly from its closed position, shown in Fig. l, to its open position, shown in Fig. 2. During this movement the hammer is cocked by the breechblock and the extractor is operated. When the breech is to be closed the lever is pulled rearwardly and upwardly. In the first part of its movement the rear face of the lever, above the shoulder f2, bears upon the pin g, swinging and sliding upwardly thereon, thereby causing the breech-block to be returned to its closed position. When the limit of movement is approached, the shoulder f2 snaps over the pin and thereby locks the lever and the breech-block in the firing position. Since the pin g isforward of the lost motion to be taken up when the cartridge is exploded.

It will be understood that the form and relation of the parts may be varied to suit different conditionsof use and that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention :'-1- In a breech-loading firearm, the combina'- tion of a frame, a. breech-block pivoted in the frame, and an operating lever hung directly upon the breech-block, the lever having a notch in. its rear side and the frame 20 of the vertical plane of the pivotal connection between the breech-block and the lever whereby` the breech-block is forced home 25 positively when the Iever is moved to closed position.

This specification signed and witnessed this' 20th day of November A. D., 1912.

GEORGE s. LEWIS. Signed in thevpr'es'ence ofi- ALBERT F. CBowTHER, CHARLES R. LovELAIND.

Copies d! this paient mii be obtained for Ave' ents each, by addressing the Gmmissioner of Patents,

Wshington', 15.0." 

